A family French immersion in Provence: learning through the holiday experience
Updated: Sep 17
This summer, we didn’t really have a choice about when to travel: with the children and the school holidays, we had to come right in the middle of summer.
My name is Laura, I’m English, and I came to Provence with my husband James and our two children, Hannah and Ethan. We wanted to enjoy a real family holiday, discover the region and, at the same time, use our stay as an opportunity to practise our French.
And we definitely experienced summer in Provence… with its beautiful light, blue skies and, of course, the heat! Some days were very, very hot. Fortunately, Virginie knows the region well and always knew how to adapt our excursions. She suggested places where we could enjoy Provence while finding some shade, cooler surroundings or simply a more comfortable pace for the children.
That was also something we really appreciated about this immersion: we never felt as though we were following a fixed programme. We discovered Provence according to our interests, the weather and what worked best for our family.
And most importantly, French naturally became part of our days.
Surrounded by animals or walking beneath the trees in a forest, the children discovered new words without feeling as though they were in a lesson. We were learning differently too: by looking, walking, playing and simply enjoying our holiday together.
Two excursions particularly stood out for us.
Meeting the animals at La Barben Animal Park
One of our first excursions took us to La Barben Animal Park, near Salon-de-Provence.
Animals are always a good idea with children. Hannah and Ethan were able to see lions, giraffes, red pandas and many other species. But that day also showed us just how easily a visit could become an opportunity to practise French.
Words suddenly became very concrete. “Herbivore”, “carnivore”, “omnivore”… They were no longer simply vocabulary to memorise. The children could look at the animals and immediately connect the French words with what they were seeing.
It was a way of learning that suited them particularly well: looking, understanding, asking questions and picking up a few new words along the way.
And when it is very hot in Provence, as it was during our stay, choosing and organising excursions becomes important.
Virginie adapted our days so that we could continue exploring the region without suffering too much from the heat. We took our time, looked for shade and stopped for breaks whenever we needed them.
In the end, even the weather became part of our experience of Provence.
Virginie’s tip
July and August can be very hot in Provence. If, like us, you are travelling with children and have to come during the school holidays, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the region. The important thing is to adapt the timing and choice of excursions, plan regular breaks and choose certain activities according to the temperature that day.
Finding some cool air in the Luberon cedar forest
For our second excursion, Virginie suggested something completely different: a walk through the Luberon cedar forest. After several days under the Provençal sun, being surrounded by trees and nature felt particularly refreshing.
We walked together beneath the tall cedar trees and enjoyed the much calmer atmosphere. The children were very happy to take part in a treasure hunt. Once again, the activity naturally became an opportunity to learn a few new words in French.
They observed the plants, animals and everything around them. The vocabulary didn’t come in the form of a list to memorise: it was directly connected to what they were experiencing.
We then had a picnic beneath the cedar trees.
That moment sums up quite well what we loved about our stay: being together, taking our time, discovering somewhere new and allowing French to become a natural part of the day.
And that day, after the heat of the previous days, we particularly appreciated the peace and nature of the forest.
Learning French without turning the holiday into school
Before we came, our goal was simple: to enjoy our holiday while learning and practising French. Over the course of the week, we discovered that the two could blend together very naturally.
At the animal park, the children expanded their vocabulary around animals. During our time outdoors, they discovered words connected with nature.
Every activity brought something different.
Most importantly, French never interrupted the holiday. It was part of it.
That is probably what we will remember most about this family immersion: there weren’t separate moments for learning French and other moments for enjoying Provence.
The two were constantly intertwined.
That is exactly the spirit of Virginie in Provence: turning every walk, excursion, meal or conversation into a natural opportunity to experience and practise the language.
Experiencing Provence at a family pace
Travelling with children always requires a little flexibility. And travelling in Provence in the middle of summer requires even more.
We probably wouldn’t have organised our days in the same way if we had visited in spring or autumn. But we couldn’t choose our dates and, in the end, it was never a problem.
Virginie knew the region well enough to suggest suitable excursions and find solutions when it became too hot. Some days were more active, while others were more relaxed. We could have a picnic, look for cooler places, walk beneath the trees or simply slow down and take our time. And in the afternoon, when the heat became more intense, we could return to Virginie’s home and enjoy the swimming pool. A real treat for the children… and for us too!
We never felt that we had to choose between discovering Provence and respecting the children’s pace.
That flexibility made a real difference to our experience.
Holiday memories… and French words
By the end of our stay, we obviously hadn’t become bilingual in a week.
But that wasn’t what we were looking for.
We had come to spend time together, discover Provence and make French a real part of our holiday. And that is exactly what we did. We saw animals, played, walked beneath the cedar trees, had picnics, discovered new landscapes and learnt new words. The children connected French with experiences they had actually lived.
“Herbivore” reminds us of the animals.
Other words will remain connected to our walks, our picnics and that week together in Provence.
Our holiday therefore became much more than a series of visits. It gave us the chance to spend time together as a family and discover that a language can also be learnt this way: through experiences and memories.
And we already want to come back.
A few useful words for a family holiday in Provence
Un animal: an animal
Un herbivore: a herbivore
Un carnivore: a carnivore
Un omnivore: an omnivore
Un labyrinthe: a maze
À gauche: to the left
À droite: to the right
Une sortie: an exit
Une forêt: a forest
Une chasse au trésor: a treasure hunt
Un pique-nique: a picnic
L’ombre: shade
La chaleur: heat
Se rafraîchir: to cool down
Frequently asked questions about a family French immersion in Provence
Is Provence a good destination for a family holiday?
Yes. The region offers a wide variety of activities, including nature, animals, villages, walks and cultural discoveries. When travelling with children, the most important thing is to adapt the programme to their age and interests and, during the summer, to the heat.
Can you do a French immersion with children?
Yes. A family immersion allows French to become part of very real situations. Children can learn vocabulary during a visit, a game, a walk or a meal, without making the whole holiday feel like a series of lessons.
Do children need to speak French already?
No. Activities and conversations can be adapted to their level. The main goal is to give them opportunities to hear French, gradually understand new words and feel comfortable trying to use them in an enjoyable environment.
Is Provence too hot to visit with children in summer?
Provence can be very hot in July and August. For families like ours who have to travel during the school holidays, it is therefore important to adapt the pace of each day. Carefully chosen excursions, shady activities, regular breaks and cooler places make it possible to continue enjoying the stay.
How can you make learning French fun for children?
By giving the words a purpose. Seeing an animal, following a treasure hunt or identifying a plant immediately gives vocabulary meaning. French then becomes part of the experience rather than a school exercise.
You may also like
If you would like to discover how French can become part of an entire stay in Provence, continue with French immersion in Provence: the complete guide.
You may also enjoy How to learn French through everyday life in France, which explains why meals, excursions and simple everyday situations can play such an important role in language learning.
Finally, The best places to visit in Provence during a French immersion will give you more ideas for combining discovering the region with practising French.
What if French simply became part of your holiday?
You can learn French sitting around a table with a teacher.
But you can also learn the name of an animal while standing in front of its enclosure, discover new words beneath the cedar trees and chat together over a picnic.
For us, that is what made this week different.
We didn’t just visit Provence.
We experienced it together as a family, in French.
And sometimes, the words we remember best are simply the ones connected to a memory.
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